Neck-yoke center.



No. 783,520. PATENTED EEB. 28,v 1905. J. C. HARPHAM.

NECK YOKE CENTER.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 1a, 1904.

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Witnesses: Inventor, //zzf b.. y, f f

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.Patented February 28, 1905i.

JULUS C. 4HARlDl[All/I, OF LINCOLN, Nlilliltfitilri.

NEK-YME ENTEFL SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,520, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed November 18, 1904. Serial No 233,302.

Be it known that i, JULIUs C. Hanru/m, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful N eck-Yoke Center, of which the following' is a specification. y

This invention relates to neelcyoke centers.

The object of the invention is in a simple, inexpensive, practical, and economical manner to reinforce the draft-pole opening' in .such manner as positively to preclude splitting and tearing, such as frequently results in the use of such structures, to prevent wear of the center by reason of frictional contact with the washer of the pole, and generally to improve and increase the wearing qualities of devices of this character.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,-the same consists, gcnorally stated, in a neclvyoke center having its draft-pole opening interiorly and exteriorly reinforced against any tendency to tear from the strain to which the article is subjected from the neclcyoke and to any abrasion due to the contact of the center with the washer of the draft-pole.

lhe invention consists, further, in a novel formof protector to be combined with the neck-yoke center for the purposes delined.

ln the accompanying' drawings, forming a part of this specilication, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there are illustrated two forms of embodiment of the invention each capable of carrying the saine into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, projixortion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

.ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a forni of neck-yoke center' having its draft-pole openingreinforced on one side only. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longi tudinal section through the neck-yoke center shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through a neck-yoke center,

showing the draft-pole opening' reinforced on both sides. Fig. fi is a perspective detail view of the protector.

.teferring to the drawings, 1 designates the neck-yoke center, which, as usual, is constructed of several plies of leather and is provided at one end with a link 2, secured to the center in any preferred manner and forming in conjunction therewith a loop 3 for the recepof the neck-yoke. (Not shown.) This manner of constructing the neck-yoke center is in common use, and therefore needs no further description.

rlhe gist of thc present invention resides in reinforcing the d 'aft-pole opening' i in such manner as, under one embodiment of the invention, positively to preclude any splitting or tearing of the opening and the other form of embodiment of the invention to reinforce the center in the manner just defined, and, further, to protect it against wear and abrasion due to contact with the washer of the draftpole.

The protector shown in detail in Fig. 4; is constructed from metal and comprises a plate provided with a plurality of perforated ears G-in this instance four-and with an annular extension 7 to extend into the draft-pole opening 4, the outer wallof the annulus being beveled or inclined, as at 8, thus to permit the edg'e of the annulus to lie practically liush with the wall of the draft-pole opening', and thereby obviate wear of the shield or thinible of the draft-pole. ',lhe protector is held com,- bined with the center through the medium of rivets 9, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction.

ln the form of embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 there are two of the protectors en1ployed,and the rivets 9 pass through the ears of both and are upset in the usual manner.

For light vehicles, such as buggies and the like, it will only be necessary to reinforce onehalf of the draft-pole opening; but for vehicles such as farm-wagons and the like it will be necessary to reinforce both sides of the center.

1t will be noted that the plate is only Sli htly larger in diameter than the annulus, and by this arrangement the iiexibility of the yoke center is but slightly diminished, and, moreover, any unsightly or objectionable appearance is obviated. As herein shown, the plate has its periphery cut away to present the ears 6; but it is to be understood that, if preferred, the plate may be a disk and still be within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed isg 1. The combination with the draft-pole opening of a neck-yoke center, of a protector comprising an annulus projecting into the opening' and having itsY outer side beveled and its inner side disposed flush with the wall of the draft-pole opening and a plate integral with the annulus and secured around the opening'.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a protector Afor the draft-pole openings of draftyolre centers consisting of a plate provided with perforated ears and an annulus projecting at right angles to the plate on one side thereof and having; its outer side beveled and its inner side disposed at right angles to the face of the plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto afHXed my signature in the presence of tivo witnessesl JULIUS C. HARPHAM. lNlitiiesses:

ED STAGG, E. E. WooDroRD. 

